Rev. Pat Conroy speaks during a Sunday morning service at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in 2013. Rev. Conroy is thechaplain for the U.S. House of Representatives. He was in town for a Snohomish class reunion. (Annie Mulligan / For The Herald)

Rev. Pat Conroy speaks during a Sunday morning service at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in 2013. Rev. Conroy is thechaplain for the U.S. House of Representatives. He was in town for a Snohomish class reunion. (Annie Mulligan / For The Herald)

Snohomish grad is chaplain for U.S. House of Representatives

EVERETT — The U.S. Capitol is a long way from Snohomish. And, some might fear, even farther from God.

But that’s not how the Rev. Patrick Conroy sees it.

For the past five and a half years, the Roman Catholic priest has served as the Chaplain for the U.S. House of Representatives. The 1968 Snohomish High School grad opens each day’s sitting in the House with a prayer.

“Politics does not presume to be morally right or wrong,” Conroy said during a recent interview. “When people start believing that that is the standard of good or bad politics, then they’re really going to be frustrated.”

Conroy arrived to serve Congress in 2011 as the tea party movement was making things uncomfortable for Democrats and establishment Republicans alike. In his eyes, things are much less rancorous now than they were then.

“It was obvious to me that the House was polarized,” Conroy said during an interview earlier this month. “I did not see Democrats talking to Republicans on the House floor. We are a long way from that.”

That’s not to say things are always smooth in these politically divided times following the election of President Donald Trump. Conroy presided over a rare moment of quiet and calm after Trump was sworn in as the nation’s 45th president. That came when he delivered the benediction for Trump’s inaugural luncheon.

“Bless as well all those who are in place to exercise power in our nation,” he said. “Save them from seeking those things eschewed by Solomon — long life, riches for self and the lives of enemies — and impel them to seek the gift of discernment, so as to understand justice.”

Standing by solemnly were the president, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence. Conroy shook hands with Trump and Pence after the blessing.

Born in Everett in 1950, Conroy went as a boy to live with his mother in Arlington, Virginia, following his parents’ divorce, according to a biography posted on his official website. He returned to Snohomish County during his sophomore year of high school. He graduated from Claremont McKenna College and earned a law degree from Gonzaga University before entering the Jesuit order. He was ordained a priest in Seattle in 1983.

Early in his career, Conroy provided legal help to the Colville Tribes and to refugees fleeing the civil war in El Salvador. Before arriving in Washington, D.C., he worked for several years at Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon.

Since leaving the Northwest, he’s made return trips, including a 2013 visit for his 45th high school reunion.

In a recent video for America Magazine, a national weekly journal published by the Jesuits, Conroy mused about the challenges he faces straddling the worlds of politics and faith.

“How do you follow Jesus of Nazareth in the contentious atmosphere of politics?” he asked. “Hopefully you do it with great charity and great wisdom and great sincerity, while respecting every voice you hear. Impossible? Well, that’s why I’m praying.”

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.